Damn

[ChadTower]

Dammit.  Just worked 70 hours last week to get a software release out the door well and on time... and as soon as I was done, the ---smurfs--- laid me off.

I hate everything.

[RacerX]

I can empathize.  My job is being "discontinued" as of December 31, 2005, but I consider myself lucky because it could have been sudden like yours was.  Sucks, dude.  But you'll land on your feet!  Best of luck to you.

[ChadTower]

I can empathize.  My job is being "discontinued" as of December 31, 2005, but I consider myself lucky because it could have been sudden like yours was.  Sucks, dude.  But you'll land on your feet!  Best of luck to you.

That's 13 months from now!

[Thenasty]

Dammit.  Just worked 70 hours last week to get a software release out the door well and on time... and as soon as I was done, the <auto-censored> laid me off.

I hate everything.

This happened to me, they just showed me how much I'm appreciated  

[Crazy Cooter]

Hello unemployment.  Enjoy the time off, I wish I had more time between the last job and the one I'm at now.  I only had two weeks.  I didn't even get to do anything fun.

If I were laid off right now I'd:
Go snowboarding (if I was off the crutches)
Build/Finish a cab/cp
Learn Linux (you may already know it)
Write a FE (with controls.dat support)
Sleep in until noon
Trace some graphics with Illustrator
Rake/clean the yard (snow is on the way)
Clean the garage/cover the mowers/prep the snowblower
Hit the bar with a crisp $100 bill and a designated driver

I'm sure there's a LOT of other ideas.  Take the rest of the week off and start looking for work Sunday.  Until the first interview, quit shaving.  I do it every winter just to bug the misses.  I stop getting my hair cut around august too.  Just another grizzley adams mullet winter over here.  

btw, I've noticed more and more companies moving towards the "thanks, now leave" methodology.  At least they didn't have you train in a replacement.  The guy that trained me in got the boot.  

[ChadTower]

I have two kids and a mortgage.  I'm not thinking about fun and games.  I'm thinking about health insurance and making sure my kids don't have to sleep in the ---smurfing--- station wagon.

[DrewKaree]

I have two kids and a mortgage.  I'm not thinking about fun and games.  I'm thinking about health insurance and making sure my kids don't have to sleep in the <auto-censored> station wagon.

Dunno where you're at, but I've got work you can do until you find something.

I know that doesn't REALLY help, but if you're in my area, it'll at least help for now.

[Trimoor]

If you want to get revenge, take a copy of the source code and release it to the public.

And they thought they saved money by laying you off....

[SirPoonga]

I have two kids and a mortgage.  I'm not thinking about fun and games.  I'm thinking about health insurance and making sure my kids don't have to sleep in the <auto-censored> station wagon.

No kidding.

There's enough unemployed people around here (   ) we should start ou own company

[danny_galaga]

looks grim now, but just around the corner will be something twice as good

[paigeoliver]

Dammit.  Just worked 70 hours last week to get a software release out the door well and on time... and as soon as I was done, the <auto-censored> laid me off.

I hate everything.

Your in the wrong industry, way too many computer people out there. That means that most companies can and will treat them like dirt, knowing they will get 100 resumes for any open position.

I really suggest taking this opportunity to switch gears to an industry that would perhaps allow you to enjoy life, rather than sacrificing yourself for a paycheck.

[dreamcastninja]

burger king or mcdonalds... it's all the same

[crashwg]

I really suggest taking this opportunity to switch gears to an industry that would perhaps allow you to enjoy life, rather than sacrificing yourself for a paycheck.

What do you suggest Paige?  I've been trying to come up with a career for a couple years now and have been stuck in a rut of dead end jobs...

[fredster]

Try working for Ford or GM.  You can also look up IT jobs.  Saint's in IT.

There are lots of openings for factory IT guys, all over.  They have good bennies most of the time.

Even stores like walmart and meijer, and Sam's, costco all have vast systems that need IT to keep the inventory and payroll going.  Full time people have pretty good bennies too.   10% off, etc.

Factories look for guys to assist the office staff in training, etc.  Some of these jobs can be staff level.

[ChadTower]

Alas, in Massachusetts, if you want to live like a reasonable family, such jobs don't do it.  The cost of living here is WAY TOO HIGH for that.  If your family isn't making a combined $70k forget about owning even the crappiest little house.  

DrewKaree, where are you?  

Releasing the source code for this product wouldn't get you a damn thing since it requires $80,000 Oracle licenses.  Besides, the product sucks and that's why the company didn't keep me.

[paigeoliver]

Ok, then keep living there, and keep up those 70 hour weeks by all means.  

The whole IT industry is like that, not just small segments. There might be a few good places here and there, but in general it is like that. That is why I am not a part of that industry, even though I easily could be.

I may not have a "career" and I may only make about $24K per year. But I'm not a slave, I am still single, but if I wasn't I would actually have time to spend with my spouse and children. And you wouldn't be able to replace that with every house in Massachusetts.

Everyone I know it seems, regardless of income still lives at the very edge of their means, or beyond, and none are satisfied. I now have friends my age who are both lawyers and doctors (well, a research chemist with a doctorate), and they aren't satisfied either. Both of their wives seem very neglected (the lawyer's wife seems to have a bit of a thing for me, probably because I am like the polar opposite of her husband).

Anyway, this is way off topic. I was just suggesting escaping now, while you still can.

[ChadTower]

Trust me, I've had this discussion with my wife 500x.  I hate MA, I hate the way it's run, I don't like it here.  I don't like my career.  The problem is that my wife wants to stay where her family is... I'm from Canada, and I'd love to go home but there's NO real work there and the whole country is a mess.

We could probably take the equity in our tiny house and buy a larger house in Texas with an 80% downpayment... but she doesn't want to go.

We're not the people who live beyond their means.  We take great pains and always have to live minimally... two reliable but economical cars, small house on a main road, no fancy vacations, etc etc.  We do that so my wife can stay home with the kids and raise them well rather than keeping them in a daycare like most parents.  Hell my wife bought new socks and underpants the other day and kept the receipt in case she wanted her $8 back.

[Matthew Anderson]

I can remember a time when I got laid off (has only happened about 3 times in my career). I had only been working steady 60-70 hour weeks. So, my "boss" gave me my severance check I looked at him and asked about all my overtime. He just stares and asks me how much I want. It was at that moment that I realized he had no clue how hard I worked for him.

That was a mistake I haven't duplicated since.

Chad you need to network, talk to everyone you know. ---fudgesicle--- embarassment and get your butt in gear. Make sure your skillset is in proper order, write and rewrite your resume. Then put your resume aside for a day and then read it again. One spelling error could doom you.

I am a developer and I have weathered the economy so far not by being lucky but by "making the most of every opportunity I am presented" If you live in Los Angeles and have serious Microsoft skills throw me you resume. If not, you may want to throw me your resume anyhow, I am pretty good at them at this point.

Good Luck !!!

[crashwg]

A friend of mine was training a new girl at her work a little while back only to find out that she was to be her replacement as soon as she was done!  Granted, it was by no meens the best job in the world, but still, that's just a kick in the ass right there...  

[fredster]

Have you considered relocating?

In Tn, with $70 k you can own 30 arces and a house with a barn and live within 10 miles of work.  You also don't pay 1/2 the taxes you do there so you don't need to make so much.

I have a friend in the produce business that came from Boston to Atlanta. He hasn't looked back and thinks he has a gift from God that he isn't going to waste.

I relocated to a new state myself for reasons like yours.   I didn't look back.

Good luck!

[DYNAGOD]

Trust me, I've had this discussion with my wife 500x.  I hate MA, I hate the way it's run, I don't like it here.  I don't like my career.  The problem is that my wife wants to stay where her family is... I'm from Canada, and I'd love to go home but there's NO real work there and the whole country is a mess.

We could probably take the equity in our tiny house and buy a larger house in Texas with an 80% downpayment... but she doesn't want to go.

We're not the people who live beyond their means.  We take great pains and always have to live minimally... two reliable but economical cars, small house on a main road, no fancy vacations, etc etc.  We do that so my wife can stay home with the kids and raise them well rather than keeping them in a daycare like most parents.  Hell my wife bought new socks and underpants the other day and kept the receipt in case she wanted her $8 back.

Im also in massachusetts, and I tried the move to texas thing myself figuring with my income and their cost of living i could live like a god down there... but its one extreme to another... its piss poor cheap to live down there, but there is absolutely no decent work down there. not to mention its polluted as hell and smells (i went to houston),hot like you cant imagine, and its like travelling back in time to 1982.. ..I moved back in 3 months and luckily got my job back here..
 so your damned if you do and damned if you dont. Massachusetts is absolutely ridiculous.. up untill 3 months ago i lived in a 3 room studio and i paid 1200.00$ with no utilites!! thats a living room/bedroom ,kitchenette,bathroom (all amenites the same size as in a trailer camper)
a shithole fixer upper house up here starts at about 300k.
the cost of living in this state is just unjustifiably ludicrous.

[missioncontrol]

I have two kids and a mortgage.  I'm not thinking about fun and games.  I'm thinking about health insurance and making sure my kids don't have to sleep in the station wagon.

I got laid off 3 yrs ago and was in that same shape. I took the first job I could find and kept on searching for a better one.

I hope you find something soon. best of luck to you on landing an even better job...

[GGKoul]

Dammit.  Just worked 70 hours last week to get a software release out the door well and on time... and as soon as I was done, the <auto-censored> laid me off.

I hate everything.

Hey, I had the same thing happen to me in May/04.  I worked with this company for 4 years and I just got back from a 2 week assignment in Australia.  First day back in the office, I was told I was part of a 120 employee lay off.

I've had 2 contract assignments in the mean time, but nothing really Full Time.  I have a wife, no kids, but I have mortgage & car payments.  So I completely understand.

I can only say get your resume out there on the web asap.  As that's how I got my 2 contract assignments.  

Good Luck and keep your spirts up!  Everything happens for a reason.

[ChadTower]

Update:

Maybe right place, right time.  A good friend of mine got a req approved yesterday doing exactly what I do now, but at a nonmanagement level (I'd prefer to move back down to being an engineer anyway).  It's a contract to very likely perm... it's almost 80% certain he can get me in.

[shmokes]

Yeah...I've got a great little IT job here in Southern Utah.  By the time I graduate with my Informations Systems degree I'll have five years under my belt as the top of the totem pole Network Administrator for a fairly large organization with six offices spread out over five counties.  I do ALL of the computer/networking work for every office.  

Wanna know what I plan to do with my degree and all that impressive experience when I finish school?  Not a damn thing.  Cos Paige is right.  There's not just a glut of computer workers, networks are becoming self-repairing and pretty much everything can be administered remotely.  Don't forget outsourcing.

I decided in Jan. 2003 that, in spite of my great job, the writing is on the wall for computer workers.  For this reason I'm double-majoring at school, getting a degree in political science.  As soon as I'm done in conservative backwardsland here it's off to law school and the IT industry can kiss my butt.  Actually, I figure there's a pretty good chance I'll continue working with IT but as a rich lawyer instead of a grunt that can be used up and laid off.

[GGKoul]

Update:

Maybe right place, right time.  A good friend of mine got a req approved yesterday doing exactly what I do now, but at a nonmanagement level (I'd prefer to move back down to being an engineer anyway).  It's a contract to very likely perm... it's almost 80% certain he can get me in.

Everything happens for a reason...

[Floyd10]

Did you get fired or laid off? because if its laid off, you get unemployment. so you have some time to look for a good job

[GGKoul]

Did you get fired or laid off? because if its laid off, you get unemployment. so you have some time to look for a good job

Yes, but the money you get with unemployment is 1/3 or 1/4 of the amount your used to.  Sure it's some money, but usually not able to cover mortgage and living expenses.

[allroy1975]

almost 100% off topic, but have you guys seen the Laid Off seris by odd todd?

pretty funny stuff at http://www.oddtodd.com

Allroy

[DrewKaree]

Chad, sorry you're so far away.  I'm in WI.  I was looking for your "KICK" thread cuz I knew you posted where you lived in that there thread.

I do landscaping in the spring/summer/fall and do remodels in the winter and plowing on the side.

I know it would suck, but your area is prolly same as mine....see if a landscaping company needs help right now, mebbe find a larger company, as they'll need an IT guy too, and you'd be THE man.  That's worth a bunch.  I don't have the skills you do, and am 100x more skilled than the next "computer" guy, who asks ME what to do

I know that'd almost certainly be a downward move, and I dunno what rates of pay are like in your area, but I know the more snow falls, the higher the industry pays.  It'd be decent pay until you can find something.

[paigeoliver]

I also don't believe you have to have some massive career. If anything money is more about how you use it.

At 27 I make probably the least amount of money of any of my friends (well, except the girls, I make more than all of them). Yet I am the only one who has ZERO debt. No debt at all, no student loans, no credit cards, no mortgages, no car payments, nothing, nothing at all. My other friends all have $10K to $350K in debt. I have ZERO. Matter of fact, I actually have assets. My cruddy little truck is paid for and my arcade stuff is worth about $5K.

I just recently paid off my final debts. Now as I begin investing, it is going to be interesting to see what happens in the long term financially between my friends and I. My bet is that I'll be able to buy a home with cash before any of my friends have one paid off.

[danny_galaga]

I really suggest taking this opportunity to switch gears to an industry that would perhaps allow you to enjoy life, rather than sacrificing yourself for a paycheck.

What do you suggest Paige?  I've been trying to come up with a career for a couple years now and have been stuck in a rut of dead end jobs...

don't switch to flying is all i can say!! the surplus of pilots rivals the IT world!! you'll work for less than the minimum wage for years in the hope of scoring the big one before you realise you'll earn more being the baggage handler rather than the pilot!

[danny_galaga]

I also don't believe you have to have some massive career. If anything money is more about how you use it.

At 27 I make probably the least amount of money of any of my friends (well, except the girls, I make more than all of them). Yet I am the only one who has ZERO debt. No debt at all, no student loans, no credit cards, no mortgages, no car payments, nothing, nothing at all. My other friends all have $10K to $350K in debt. I have ZERO. Matter of fact, I actually have assets. My cruddy little truck is paid for and my arcade stuff is worth about $5K.

I just recently paid off my final debts. Now as I begin investing, it is going to be interesting to see what happens in the long term financially between my friends and I. My bet is that I'll be able to buy a home with cash before any of my friends have one paid off.

you and i both!! although i do have a mortgage i share with my sister. house will be paid off in 8 years. never had any other loan, if i dont have the money on me i dont buy it. simple. every car ive ever had was paid in cash and i dont go much for mod cons. ive never earnt much but my parents taught us not to borrow money and that its fine to save money just for the sake of saving it. when i was a 3rd year apprentice i was able to lend my DAD ten grand for a deposit on a loan!!

if youre gonna buy shares paige, be wary of my ex-pat friend rupert. those newscorp shares are yo-yos. i'm down quite a bit on mine  

[paigeoliver]

No, I'll go with something that has a solid guaranteed return. No stocks for me.

[RetroJames]

To any and all on the job search, an often overlooked, but fairly stable track is Higher Education.  Many oppourtunities in IT as well as other administrative, facilities, maintenance positions.  Nearly all full-time positions will have excellent benefits which is a huge plus for the family.

I work at a University in the IS&T dept. and when our daughter was born, my out of pocket payment was $250.00.  I found that to be unbelievable considering we stayed at the hospital for 5 days.

Check them out at the link below and ChadTower, keep us updated.  Good luck to you and all that are looking.

http://www.higheredjobs.com/

[GGKoul]

I just recently paid off my final debts.

Congrads.  When I was 27, I was debt free too.  But I'm 31 now, got married bought a house.  Now I have a mortgage payment and car payments.  One thing thats different between Canada & the US.  The interest I pay on my mortgage isn't a tax deductable and I'm unable to get a mortgage more then the value of my house to pay off other debts.  Which sucks

[RetroJames]

To any and all on the job search, an often overlooked, but fairly stable track is Higher Education.  Many oppourtunities in IT as well as other administrative, facilities, maintenance positions.  Nearly all full-time positions will have excellent benefits which is a huge plus for the family.

I work at a University in the IS&T dept. and when our daughter was born, my out of pocket payment was $250.00.  I found that to be unbelievable considering we stayed at the hospital for 5 days.

Check them out at the link below and ChadTower, keep us updated.  Good luck to you and all that are looking.

http://www.higheredjobs.com/

I forgot to mention, often at Universities they offer a "Tuition Remission" program in which faculty and staff can take classes for free.  At my school we are allowed 3 per semester.  This makes the University employment a great option for those wishing to update skills and/or switch careers.

Often there are breaks for staff/faculty children as well.

[ChadTower]

No kidding.  Once you're married with kids, you need the house.  A 3 bedroom house is CHEAPER than a 3 bedroom apt here.  A 3 bdr apt is like $1700!  You also have to have two cars... the wife can't get the kids to school etc while you're at work without a car.

As for landscaping... trust me, no one is doing ANY landscaping here now.  The ground is frozen solid.

I was laid off... company is led by one stubborn officer and one incompetent one... lost a major client, decided they couldn't keep all the Release guys.  I made like $30k more than the other one, so I got the boot.  I will be able to get unemployment but as it was mentioned above, there's no way to maintain a family here with 2 kids with that as sole income.  You just burn more than that in daily living and we live about as minimally as you can without being freaks.

This job looks like it may pan out... it's contract, strong chance of perm at the end of the year, and it's a damn good pay rate.  I'd have to buy my own insurance again but at that rate I would be able to just suck it up and pay the $1100 COBRA rate if I had to do so.

[ChadTower]

My grad level work was all 3d animation, mostly character animation... dude, you think development is a high time job?  Animation is open ended.  We're talking 100 hours.  No joke.

BTW, great news.  That job came through.  Contract with open end, likely to be perm at the end of the year... i'm holding the offer paperwork right now.  Wow.  Talk about timing being everything.

[Jabba]

Glad to see something came through so quickly.
I'm in the IT industry and things are slow, but slowly starting to pick up (in Canada anyway). Everyone's been holding off on any IT investments over the last few years and the budgets are starting to open up.

Cheers and good luck with the new Job!